Lever-check for electric controllers.



J. THOMAS. E LEVER CHECK EOE ELECTRIC CONTROLLERS.

APELIOATION FILED JAN.27, 1909.,

:y Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

jv 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

m, H mf m Ww m M. Y MB J. THOMAS.

LEVER CHECK ECR ELECTRIC CONTROLLERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 27, 1909. l l

l Pgtented A111220, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

H@ n M www@ TTOH/VE VS JoHNTnoMAsoF NEw'YoRK, N, Y.

' ling the operation of-the motor.

ALEVER-CHECK' Fon ELEeTnIe CONTROLLERS.

Specification of Iletters Patent.-

vIfuatex'iteul April 2,'1909.

Application mea January 2v, 1909. sefi1Nq..4*/4;54`a

T o all whom 'it may concern."

Be it known that' l, JoHNTnoMAs, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of the city of Ne'w York, borough of' Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and lmproved Lever-Check for Electric Controllers, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description. 'l

This invention relates toelectric controllers such as used on electric cars for controllt is a well-known factthat damage is fre- -quently done to motors by turning the full strength of the current through them suddenly, due to the fact that the motors have not generated a counter-electromotive force which will overcome part of the current. lt has been attempted to overcome this difliculty, by using circuit arrangements which will give series or parallel connections in different positions of the controller' lever.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for checking the controller lever, which will operate so as to prevent Its [being suddenly rotated in a direction'which 1 will throvirl on the full strength f the current'.

I ing movement.

The' device operates in'such a way that while it does not prevent the lever from being moved into the position which will turn the current on, it does prevent its being swung to that position by a single continuous advancln this way even if the controller leveris in the hand of an unskilled inot'orma'n,V it will he impossible for him to turn the current on suddenly, tothe injury of the motor as suggested.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more full described hereinafter and particularly set orth in the claims. l

.Veference is to be had to theaecom anying drawings forming a part of this s eci ication, in which similar characters of re erence in'dicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a horizontal section through the upper portion of a controller towhich my invention has been applied, certain parts of my device being shown in cross section, thisview also showing the parts-in the position which they assume in the first step of the advancing movement of the lever, and this view illustrates how the 'device operates to check the movement of the lever; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1`, but showing how the device re- *leases so aste permit a further advancing movement ofthe lever; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, showing the apparatus in a more advanced step of thereleasing movement g Fig. 4 is a verticalseetion on the line `4--4' of Fig. 3 Fig. 5 isa detail view showing. a pawl arm andp'awl, a portion of the end of the pawl arm being brokenaway so' as to'.

illustrate more fully the details of themean's for mounting the pawl and Fig. 6 is a section through the pawl and pawl arm' taken nthe line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and further illustrating the details of the pawl mounting.

Referring ore particularly to the parts, and especiallJ to Fig. 1, 1 represents the case of the controller, comprising the usualcover plate 2 and a slightly curved shell 3. The lever spindle 4 p'assesvertically through 'the lcase in the `usual manner, and is provided with a stan wheel. o r segment 5, having av plurality of pointed teeth 6 with V-shaped notches d7 therebetween, said teeth being spaced equidistant', asA shown. igt a suitable point l attach a bracket 8 on .the interiorof the case, and lthis bracket is provided with a awl arm 9 which is pivotally attached to the racket on a suitable pivot pin- 10.

is dis osed in a horizontal plane and its free end is near the teeth 6 of the segment;

rlhe outer end of 'this arni is bifurc'ated andy Vhas enlarged eyes I1.

These eyes form the bearings for enlarged circular bosses or gudgeons I2l whichare formed near the lbutty end of apawl 13, which pawl projects away from the segment. rlhrough the-gudgeons of the pawl, a pin 14 passes, and this pin eonstitutes the center pin or arbor for a roller 15.

rlhis roller isadapted to engage in the notches 7 and is held in engagement therewith by a coil spring l-Which is attached to--the pawlarm and' to a hook 17 on the bracket, asv

shown. rhe pin 14 is eccentric to the gudge'ons 12, so that when the segment is rotated y rotating the spindle .4, the pawl 13v will swing; the direction of movement will' be as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, vor the re- 2. On the edge of thebracket 8, a stop 17 a is pro-vided, which limits the forward movement of the pawl, a'sindicated in Fig. 1.v rlhe' verse of these directions,l as illustrated in Fig.

end of the pawl lines near the upper face of K the bracket 8 which is horizontal, as indicated, and on this face a rocker block or rocker 18 is mounted on a pivot pin 191 |This block hassubstantially the form shown.l It presents a jaw 20 which projects toward the extremity of the arm 9, and this jaw is '2 Il traces iseparatedifroini the body `of the block by' a sented anabrupt' shoulder 23, the pu lose o -Y apnotch. 27 which is formed upon a raised abutment or boss 28 onthe upper sldeof the for the go ahead.

vnerredge of the jaw which forms an edge of y vthe slot, vpresei'its'an .inclined edge 22, vas' ,recesses 24, and the edge of thebock atthis vfrom sideto side bythe pawl, aswill-'be de# different positions.

ythe usual direction of movement for turning deep slot or throat `21. The 'aw 20 does not extend the full width of the lock. rlhe inshown in 1g. 2, beyond which there is -pre,-

which will -be more fully described' erein-l after. lThe edge f the block opposite to the spindle '4is lprovidedwithftwo de ressions or point is rounded, as shown. A small plunger 25 is provided, having a rounded nose whiclt plunger evidently will tend to hold the block lneither offtwo positions when'it is rocked scribed hereinafter. j

The freeh'endof the pawl which forms the butt end of the jaw 20, isnormallyv seated in bracket. The same abutment 28 constitutes a seat fora cam 29 having substantially the form shown. i This cam presents a cam edge V30 which projects overthe jaw. and lies adjacent to the` same. The opposite'end of the cam is attached .to a link 3.1- which extends toward the right of the controller case, where it is ivotally attachedby a pin 32 to a star el 33 which is rigidlyattached to the reversing spindle 34. This wheel33 has teeth 35 with V-shaped notches 36 therebetween, as shown. A check arm 37 is provided which is pivotedl to the case at 38, and this check arm is providedwith a roller 39 atpits extremity which is ada ted to engage the notches 36 so asto ho d the spindle 34 in These positions correspond to the ofi position of the reversing switchexisting when the roller 39 is inthe central@ notch, and correspond also to the ahead and reversing positions of said switch, the notch on one side being for the reversing, and the one on the other side being rfhis arm 37 s nornially -held pressed toward the spindle 34 by a coil spring 4.0 attached to the case, as shown.

The mode of operation lof the device will now be described: Referring especially to Fig. 1, when the controller lever 41 (see Fig. 4) is moved from left to right, which is the current on, it tends to rotate the spindle 4 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1. .This direction of movement of the segment or star wheel will tend to move the pawl 13 in the direction of the arrow shown adjacent to it, and will swing the pawl until it strikes the stop 17 a, and at this time the end of the'pawl will be substantially against the end of the jaw 2 0, so that the jaw will prevent the pawl from being displaced'outJ wardlyf The roller cannot move out,

'and acts asa c'heckto the further rotation of the spindle in thedirection of the arrow. ln this' connection itshould be noted that in this relation of the parts, the butt end of the f jaw is seated in the notch 27, which pre vents va'rearward movement of the jaw. ln this way the advance of the controller lever is checked. .ln order to free the segment so that it can be rotated in thedirection of thev arrowshown in Fig. 1, it'is necessary to-rotate it sli htly toward the opposite direction,

that is, ackwardly, as indicated by the i arrow in- Fig. 2. W hen this is done, the free end f the awl rotates in a-right-hand direction, as in icated by the arrow inFig. 2, and it moves across the mouth of .the throat 21, striking. against the opposite .edge of the throat nea'r .the pin 19. The ressure on the block or rocker. 18 at this point will tend to rotate it ina left-hand -direction on its pivot i: pin 19, so thati the block or' rocker 18 will bev thrown into the position in which it is shown' in'Fig. 2. The block or rocker will be stoppedin this position by a rounded face 42 which forms va part lof theabutment or boss 28 (seeFig-Z). Againstthisrounded face the outer side or edge ofthe jaw 20 strikes, as indicated. At thistime the nose a of the plunger 25, will have moved into the other one of the recesses 24, that is, into the recess which it does not normally occupy, and it will then tend to hold the block inA thisv position. Now if the direction of the move ment oi the lever.- be again reversed so tliatv it is given a forward uniovement', the endof' the Aawl'will slide outiitothe throat or slotV 21, ut as it does so ,itv wlltrotate across the throat so'as to come against the edge 22 of -the `jaw. A continued movementwill then bring the end of the pawl against the shoul. der 23, so that when the arm 9 andv the pawl- 13 have had their full outward movement,

the awl will have pushed the rocker or blocki 18 ack to its normal position, shown in Fig. 1. In making this latter movement, the segment will be released through one notch or tooth space, that is, the next notch Y in the rear of the one then in engagement with the roller will be moved into Yengagement with the roller.

ln the inner end of the throat 21, a later ally disposed recess or pocket 43 is formed on the edge opposite to the jaw, and this pocket is provided in order to produce clearance for the end of the pawl 13 in performing its necessary motions in the throat. y

. vWith the construction described it will be evident that the controllerlever can be roy tated so as to turn the current on,but the motion cannot be a continuous and sudden one, and the advancing motion will be substantially stopped at each notch 7J necessitating a short pause and a reversal oll the directionf-of movement of the lever.. The j trolled by said pawl adapted tocheck the spring-pressed plunger 25A acts as aclamp'ing device tending to hold the 4block in either of its outward positions, and itprevents the block from vibrating or being thrown from theseipositions4 by. thel rocking or vibration of the car.

It is desirable l for the current'to be suddenly turned off from themotor, andv in order to prevent any possibility of the rocker checking the rear,

ward movement of the controller lever 41,

I have provided the link 31 and the other. parts which connect the cam 29 with the rey versing .spindle 34. lf 4the reversing lever 44 shown in Fig. .4 be swung in the righthand direction so as to move the link-31` in to the 'position in which it is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the cam edge 30 willbe ad-l vanced across the extremity of the jaw 20' and will engage the end of the pawl so as to. push it back from the jaw.

In this way the pawl, is moved Vout into the throat and the cam edge 30 is made to project over the edge 22 and theshoulder 23 of the jaw. -lf'ilhen the spindle 4 is then rotated in the left-hand direction to throw oil' the current, the pawl 13 simply slides backward and forward in' the throat 21, without. moving the block and without of'leri'ng any, substantial resistance to the movement of the lever.

The force of the spring 16 can be adjusted by providing several openings 16a in the pawl 9, in any one of which thevend ofthe spring may be attached. These openings are different distances from thel pivot pin 10 lever arms of different lengths.

For convenience the awl 9 is made in two sections 9*", which enab e the gudgeons ofthe pawl to 'be made integral with the body thereof. The sections 9a are thenv engaged with the gudgeonsand are clamped together as will be--readily understood.

j Having thus'- described my invention I. claim as new and'desire to secureby Letters 1..In combination, a controller spindle, a segmentcarried thereby, an arm coperating with said segment, a pawl carried by said arm projecting away from said segment,` a mem er normally adapted to obstruct said pawl rwhen said arm is' moved outwardlyiby said segment and having a slot which ma receive said pawlfand means connected witlyi said pawl for directing the same into said slot on a reverse movement of said spindle.

2. In combination, a controller spindle, a star wheel carried thereby, anarm pressed toward said st-ar wheel, a pawl having means for engaging said star wheel at its butt end and projecting away from said starwheel, said pawl being adapted to be swung by the teeth of said star wheel when said segment 'rhar a should be possible:

. checked'. l

of the arm, and consequently give the spring,

forward rotation of said segment .and adapt. ved to permit a backward rotationfof said 3. In combination, a controller spindle, a

-l `toothed segment carried thereby, ,an arm, a

" pawl carried pivotally at the endfof said arm 1 and havingmeans at the. butt end vthereof for engagingfthe teeth of said-segment, said' pawl projecting 'away from` said segment, and a pivoted block controlled by's'aid pawl and having a throat adapted to receive said pawl .when 'permitting the rotation, of said segment, said block having a jaw' adapted to engage said pawl to arrest the movement thereof and check the rotation-of said seg-A ment. v

4.. In combination, a controller spindle, a-

'segment 'having teeth mounted thereupon,

an arm,means for pressing said arm toward said segment, apawl pivotally mounted in the -end of said-arm, a roller eccentricall'y mounted on said p awl and engaging between the teeth of said-segment whereby the movement ofsaid segment may swing said pawl upon its pivot, saidpa'wl )rejecting away from said segment, yand a lock pivotally mounted and-adapted to be rocked by said l pawl, said block having a throat receiving said pawl to permit a swinging movement of said arm 'away from said. segment said block affording means for engaging the end of said pawlin another positionto prevent an outward swinging movement efsaid arm, whereby the rotatrion vof saidsegment is y5. ln combination, a controller spindle, ,a segment having teeth rigidly mounted upon. said spindle, a pivoted yarm, a spring con straining -said arm toward said segment, a

pawl pivotally mounted inthe end of said arm, a roller eccentric-ally mounted at the butt end of said pawland engaging between said teeth, said pawl projecting 'away from lsaid segment, and a pivoted block having a jaw adapted to engage the end of saidipawl'when said pawl is actuated! by a forward rotation of said segment, said block having an edge adapted to be engaged by said p awl when said pawl is swung by a rearward rotation .of said segment, said block having a throat adjacent to said jaw adapted to receive said pawl to p'erniit the rotation of said segi'nentnndaffording means for replacing said block in its normal position. j f. l f

, 6. ln combination, a controller spindle, a segment Vhaving teeth rigidly attached. te said spindle, an arm., means for pressing said, arn'e. toward said segment, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm having a roller at the but-t end thereof engaging said teeth and all said segment is rotated, a 1movable' block, and

'l'oiding means for swinging said pawl when means for nora-ally4 holding said block in pooutward movement of said arm whensaid segment is rotated forwardly, said Vblock havl ingan edge adapted to bei engaged. by said .pawlfin` its swinging movement when said segment vis reversed, whereby said bloclfj 1s. movedfto a displaced position, saidA blocksaid arm toward said segment, a pawl'pivotally mounted in said arm,- a roller carried at the butt'end of-isaid pawl and engaging said -`teeth, saidv roller enabling, said/segment to force said arm outwardly and to swing said pawl,- alnd a' pivotally mounted block 'having' a aw engaged by said pawl on the forward 'rotation of said segment to check the out# ward movement ofsaid arm, said bloclhaving V an edge adapted to be'fengaged Vby said pawl in its yswinging .movementwhen actuated by a backward rotation of said segment, saidl block having ,a throat adapted to receive sai'dpawl to permit an outward swinging of said arm with a forward rotation' of said segment. i

8. In combination, a controller spindle', a segment having' teeth rigidly attached to said spindle, Aan arm, aspring pressing said aim toward said segment, a pawl pivotally carried by said arm, a rollerl eccentric'ally mounted on saidV pawl and engaging between said teeth, and apivoted'block having a 'aw adapted to engage the end of said pawl to prevent the outward movement of said arin y said segment, said block having edge adapted'to be engaged by said pawl-in its swinging movement to rotate said block and having a throat adapted to receive said pawl to permit an outward movement of said arm, the edge of said' throat having a shoulder adapted to engage the end 'of said pawl whereby said pawll may replace said block. l

9.' In combination, a controller spindle, a ,segment having teeth rigidly attached to said spindle, an arm, a4 spring tending to force said arm toward said segment, a pawl pivotally mounted on said arm, a roller carried by said pawl, engagingbetween the teeth of said segment, a pivoted block having a jaw, means for holding said block in a normal position in which said j aw v'willengage the end of said pawl to prevent anoutward movement of said arm, said block having an edge adapted to be engaged by ,saidpawl in Swingin@ when actuated by a rearward ro-, tation 0I said segment, and means tending to permit the Aoutwardlm'ovenient ofA `said,

` ,iholdisaid block in thedis laced position :which it is movedby sai pawl, said block having a throat adapted to receive said pawl to permit the outward movement of said arm.- i i 10.v In an electric "controller, in combination, -a spindle, means for rotating-said spindle, a segmentV carried by said spindle, a

membercooperatingwith saidv spindle and l tending to checkthe rotation of said'spindle eriodically as said spindle rotates, means or releasing said spindle from said member by a reverse movement thereof, a reversing spindle, and means for controlling the `opf eration of said member from said reversing spindle.

vice coperating with said spindle to prevent 11. In combination, a spindle, a check de'- I an uninterru ted forwai'drotationv4 thereof, Y

said check device comprising 'a pawl, a mem- .vber coperating with said pawl and normally operating to obstruct the movement of said pawl,a reversing spindle, and a connection between said reversing spindle andsaid pawl for guiding said-pawl so as to beimqbstructed by said member when said reversing spindle is rotated, whereb rearward rotationof sai first spindle may be"Y an uninterrupted had. l

- 12. In combination, a controller spindle, a segment having teeth rigidly attached to said spindle, anarm, means tending to press said arm toward'said segment, a pawl carried by said arm, a member normally coperating .with said pawlto prevent the outward movement of. said arm and having a throat per- Ymittiiig the outward movement ofvsaid pawl,

a cam mounted adjacent to said throat and adapted-to Uuide said pawl intosaid throat,

and means iao'r actuating said cam.

13. In combination, a controller spindle, a segment having teeth rigidly attached to said spindle, an arm, means tending to press said arm toward said segment, a pawl carried by said arm, a member normally coperating with said pawly to prevent the outward movement of said arm and having a throat permitting the outward movement of said pawl,

a cam mounted adjacent to said throat and adapted to guide said awl into said throat, a reversing spindle, anv means for actuating said cam from said reversing spindle.

In testimony whereof I ave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnessesf` JOHN THOMAS.

Witnesses:

F. D'AMMEN, JoHN P. Davis.

ico 

